San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-07-23
IN CLANKING CHAINS.

And the soldier, too, You must not for
get him"
every well, then; I'll forgive him, too.
But he must leave my army, though, for his
disObedience."
THAT don't matter lie can live with my
father rutil | come home again"
One single qualm of conscience came over
the villainous general, but when 1t was gone
his brutality was even more relentless than
before.
Your father will be angry" he said, fear
ing that he might get into trouble II he
seemed 10 take Ninette away against her
will. "YOu must tell him that you go with
me willingly and that it is your own wish.
DO not say, either, that you go TO save their
lives-wait until you come home, year
hence, before you let any Of them know
that"
81 will obey YOU" she said.
An hour later she stood before the gener-
ais tent when her three friends were brought
up.
The clanking Of their chains still thrilled
her with horror. How glad she was that they
were to be so quickly stricken of What a
kind man the general was, after all, to par
don them for her, and how slight was the re-
turn he had asked her to make for 1t! The
world seemed very beautiful To her that
morning.
"RemOve the chains" commanded the
general.
He was Obeyed.
Now" he said, 'these men can go where
they like All three Of them are pardOned."
Come, Ninette,' said her father, after
the general had been thanked for his elem
ency, 1--WE will go home"
She shook her head.
Il shall stay with the general" she said
'In year Will come home again"
What can you mean, chiId?' he cried in
horror.
Antonio and the discharged soldier looked
at each other in absOlut" bewiderment.
'Do not ask me anything more" she said,
displeasrd at his manner.
'Shall you-suDmit-tO this man? Is that
what you mean? Oh, God! not thaG Come
away at oncep' he begged.
She pushed him back.
81 have already submitted" she answered,
half angrily, and little thinking what her
words seemed to imply. Now, kiss me and
60 away"
Kiss you! After that? Never. l curse you
instead? How could so pure a mother have
brought forth SO vile whelp. l."
But at a motion from the general the three
liberated men were seized and hurried quick
ly out of the camp.
II am glad | am going with YOU" said Nj
nette to the general my father is so
rough"
The three men went away with heavy
hearts.
"All women are the same" muttered the
discharged soldier.
'And l thought her so innocent" mOaRed
the old artist
Ninette's father weeping.
A year had passed since they last saw her
in the early morning light before the geAer-
ais tent. The war was over, and all France
was free and at peace again.
A beautiful woman, sad and stern-taced,
left Paris salon, by herself, just at day
break, and walked firmly and swiftly to-
ward the Seine 1t was Ninette. She had
kept her oath, and now once more was the
prisoner freed from the clankng chains.
Not chains of iron this time, but chains OF
silver and of gilt. They were shaken for
ever from the brave ankles where innocence
had suffered lust to bind them.
Her father still tOiled in the vineyard; old
Antonio was once more basking in the warm
sunshine of Italy, while the discharged sold
Ter was still swearing that there were no
true women in the world. Yet one true
woman had paid the price of their three
lives, and as she took her cold, fatal plunge
into the Seine, not one of them once
imagined the fearful debt the three owed
Translated by Leu TundGrpOOle, for